Category: Commentary

Sunday eventually saw the temperature rise above average, just, in late afternoon as the sunshine increased, reaching a peak of 14.2C (+0.2C). With Storm Hannah well into the North Sea it was a much quieter day with a peak gust of 17mph.

We have enjoyed 19 dry days in April, the 9 wet days produced a total rainfall of 43.0mm whereas the sunshine and strong drying winds meant we have lost the equivalent rainfall of 62.15mm through evaporation from ground sources and plant life.

Another cool night followed with the thermometer sinking to 5.7C at 03.34 Monday morning that saw hazy sunshine from dawn that lifted the temperature to 9.8C at 08.00

Update on Monday at 18.25: ridge of high pressure lifted temperature to a maximum of 16.1C at 16.35, which was 2.1C above average

Saturday brought us the evidence of Storm Hannah, centred over Ireland, that gave us a very windy day. The peak gust measured 42mph at 09.09 but for many hours the 10 minute average seed was 10 – 12mph.

I was a dry day with the overnight rain ceasing just before 08.00

Due to the strength of the wind and the direction, then from the west, the maximum was depressed producing a peak of only 11.6C, which was 2.4C below average. However, the other factor was the strength and direction of the wind, which produced a wind chill making it feel 3C cooler.

The temperature fell away overnight giving a chilly night with a minimum of 5.4C at 03.46, recovering to 7.6C at 08.00, Sunday, with thick cloud obscuring any sunshine.

Update on Sunday at 16.35: after a very cool morning with the thermometer hovering around 11C, late afternoon sunshine lifted the temperature to a maximum of 14.1C, just above the average for late April. Fortunately the wind has abated from yesterday’s storms with the strongest gust today of 17mph and now from the north west.

Although Friday morning was very sunny the cloud built up before noon and the first rain shower was observed at 12.14 when in the squall the wind gusted to 23mph.

There followed occasional showers with more overnight and a longer period between 05.00 and 07.50 that brought the daily total to 6.1mm.

The thermometer reached its highest point early in the day on Friday, before the cloud increased, with a maximum of 14.8C at 11.48 being 0.8C above average. Overnight the thermometer fell away to minimum of 5.9C at 05.40 Saturday, which was 1.8C above average.

Saturday saw the wind strength rising as a result of Storm Hannah with the peak gust by 08.00 of 33mph. The cloud began to thin just before 08.00 as the rain band eased eastwards when the sun began to make an appearance.

Update on Saturday at 12.30: peak gust of wind measuring 42mph at 09.09. The wind speed has been easing down over the past hour or so with the 10 minute average reduced from 13mph to 8mph. Wind chill meant it felt 3C cooler.

Further update at 15.36: strongest gust of wind in past hour now down to 33mph as Storm Hannah moves off into the North Sea. The warmest part of the day was mid afternoon when the thermometer reached a maximum of only 11.6C being 2.4C below average, the coolest day since 14th April. Wind chill meant if felt 2C below the ambient temperature.

Thursday saw the temperatures lower again, by day and night. The maximum reached was 14.7C, still 0.7C above the average but almost a 10C drop from the peak earlier in the week.

It was a dry day with the UV level rising to 5.2, which was classed as ‘high’. it was also the windiest day since the 15th with a peak gust of 26mph.

A cool night was to follow with the thermometer falling to 4.2C at 03.17 in the early hours of Friday.

Friday saw mist draping the Marlborough Downs and Savernake Forest limiting the visibility to 1,000m initially. However, by 08.00 the sun was doing its best to break though lifting the mist and temperature to 8.3C.

Update on Friday at 18.50: another cool and breezy day with the maximum of 14.8C occurring early in the day at 11.48 being 0.8C above average. The wind strength rose to a peak of 23mph as a rain squall passed through at 12.17 with a heavy shower mid-afternoon.

Wednesday started off well with the thermometer rising to 16.1C at 11.06, which was 2.1C above average but thereafter the temperature fell away to hover between 11C and 12C throughout the rest of the day. The thermometer fell as the heavy showers arrived at 11.14 producing 4.1mm with a couple of minor showers overnight adding another 0.8mm bringing the daily total to 4.9mm. This brief wet spell broke the fourteen consecutive days without measurable rainfall.

It was a much windier day with a peak gust of 22mph, the strongest gust since the 15th.

Overnight the thermometer fell away to a minimum of 7.4C a 02.08 in the early hours of Thursday.

By daybreak on Thursday there were breaks in the cloud allowing very brief glimpses of weak sunshine with the thermometer having recovered to 9.8C at 08.00.